Three people were last Monday kidnapped by a gang of armed robbers who claimed to be members of a Niger Delta militant group, along the Lagos/Ogun waterways.
The victims, identified as a politician in Obadero Akesan area of the Lagos State, a naval officer and a lady, were among passengers that boarded a boat at Adeckson bus stop, Ojo in Lagos State, to Moshe village, on the outskirt in Ogun State.
An eye witness Femi John told reporters on Saturday that the three people are still in the custody of the kidnappers who demanded for a ransom of N7millon.
John, a Local Council Development Area (LCDA) staff in Lagos, said residents in both Moshe and Totowu village now live in palpable fear due to the constant attacks from the gang of militants.
“Last week Wednesday, I boarded a boat from Ishitu Ego jetty to Totowu village, a border community between Lagos and Ogun States at the close of work. All was going on well until we got to the middle of the river and these boys blocked our boat and robbed us of all we had on us. I had earlier called my wife when I was at the jetty that we were about to depart and usually it take us eight to nine minutes to get to our destination.
“But we were trapped on the waterways for close to 30 minutes as the robbers took away our valuables. Two of my phones, a loaf of bread and a folder was taken from me. The robbers came to us and identified themselves as Niger Delta militants. They said our president refused to pay their money hence they will continue to terrorize citizens. There was a lady in the boat who was going home with N250, 000 the money was collected from her and other valuables taken from other passengers,” he said.
He said a similar robbery incident has earlier taking place this time on a boat that was heading to Ibeshe village.
“We learnt that the women on that boat were asked to remove their clothes by the robbers and they fondle their breasts. We were all afraid because that kind of thing has not happened before,” John added.
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